Post Tenckhoff Catheter Insertion Instructions for new Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Patients

Introduction

The following contains information and advice regarding what you need to know for the next four to six weeks following your Tenckhoff (peritoneal dialysis) catheter insertion. This advice is given to promote healing and prevent infection of your wound and exit site (the place where your Tenckhoff catheter comes out).

Please ensure you wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly before touching your exit site to prevent infection.

Important points to remember:

1. You need to come to the home therapies department in the Cambridge dialysis centre once a week, for four to six weeks, to have your PD catheter flushed and your exit site cleaned. We will arrange for you to have your PD training after four to six weeks.
2. It is important to keep the exit site clean and dry, to promote healing and help to prevent infection. Please do not shower or bath for three to four weeks or until taught how to care for the exit site. (Strip wash or very shallow bath only during this time).
3. If the Mepore dressing on your exit site becomes loose, apply micropore tape or another Mepore dressing to secure it.
4. If the Mepore dressing on your exit site becomes soiled or falls off, apply a new Mepore dressing.
5. Use Micropore tape to prevent the PD catheter from pulling on the exit site. This will promote healing and reduce the risk of infection.
6. If the exit site becomes uncomfortable, sore, red, or begins to ooze onto the dressing, please inform home therapies or C5 ward immediately. (Contact telephone numbers below).
7. If your exit site needs to be redressed before your next appointment with us, please contact us on the numbers below and come in to either home therapies or C5 ward and the nurses will do it for you.

Please follow this advice to help promote healing and reduce the risk of infection.

If you have any concerns or need any advice, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Contact numbers

Monday to Friday 08:30 to 17:00 Home Therapies telephone number: 01223 400184

Evenings and Weekends ward C5 Telephone: 01223 217195